A Commitment to Educational Excellence: An Overview of Touro University Worldwide’s History
Touro University Worldwide carries forward a tradition of educational excellence that has its roots in the founding of the United States. The school is driven by a mission to strengthen democracy and improve lives by offering quality, affordable education to as many students as possible.
Through its pioneering online degree programs, TUW reaches more people than ever. The school became the first to offer a regionally accredited doctorate program online with no residency requirements. Thousands of graduates, most of them adult learners, have earned their degrees through TUW’s online programs.
The university continues to strive toward achieving its mission of promoting values that include intellectual pursuit, social justice, and service to society and the underserved.
Who Is Touro University Worldwide Named After?
The origin of the name for Touro University Worldwide provides insight into the mission and values of the school. From its beginnings in 1970 in New York City, TUW has operated under the belief that education provides the key to any thriving democracy, giving each citizen equal opportunity to succeed.
The university’s name honors Isaac and Judah Touro. Isaac became a leader in colonial America. President George Washington motivated the Touros. In a 1790 visit to the Touro Synagogue in Newport, R.I., Washington spoke about democracy, ethics, equal opportunity, and the American ideal. His words inspired Isaac Touro to focus on enriching the lives of all people, regardless of creed or color, through educational opportunities, spiritual outreach, and vocational enterprise.
Judah Touro continued these efforts throughout the early days of the country, endowing churches, schools, cemeteries, parks, and hospitals. Generations of the Touro family have continued their efforts, providing significant endowments for universities, the first free library in North America, independent health facilities across the nation and communities in Israel.
This commitment to helping others is critical to the mission of Touro University.
The Founding of Touro University in 1970
When he founded Touro College and University System in 1970 in New York City, Bernard Lander, Ph.D., L.H.D., dedicated the school to upholding Jewish heritage and tradition while also serving the broader American and global community through exceptional education.
Over the years, and with the creation of Touro University Worldwide, that mission has continued. With over 19,000 students currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions worldwide, Touro has a distinguished history of providing top-tier degree programs in business, law, social work, Jewish studies, technology, health sciences, and medicine at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels.
The Founding of Touro University Worldwide
In the mid-1990s, Dr. Yoram Neumann and Dr. Edith Neumann developed an online higher education school for the Touro College and University System. In 1998, they founded an international online school, Touro University International. The school became the first to offer a regionally accredited doctorate program online with no residency requirements.
Under the guidance of the two doctors, Touro had 14,000 students graduate and developed a catalog of more than 50,000 courses. In 2007, TUI was sold to a private equity group. However, Dr. Bernard Luskin founded Touro University Worldwide in 2008 to replace the educational void left by the sale of TUI.
The school offers a variety of degree programs geared toward professional success and personal fulfillment. TUW helps thousands of professionals each year further their careers by gaining skills that keep up with marketplace trends. The online programs allow students to pursue a degree around their busy schedules.
TUW offers a wealth of programs designed with adult learners in mind. With a commitment to excellence in education and a mission to provide those in underserved communities with better education opportunities, Touro University Worldwide offers a high-quality option for those motivated to pursue their degree online.
